Item and user tracking

Abstract

A computer system is used for tracking data, the computer system including a data collection system for identifying events of categories such as reception events, storage events, and association events. The system further includes an item module containing index data for an item. The system further includes an end user facility module for recording the reception events that are to be assigned to the item and the storage events that are to be assigned to the item. The system further includes a provider module for assigning the association events to a provider. The system further includes an end user module for recording the association events that are to be assigned to the end user and to the item. The system further includes a reporting system for generating reports. The item has a unique index value and the end user has a non-unique index value.

1 . A computer system for tracking data, the computer system being implemented in computer-readable medium and processor executed, the computer system comprising:
 a data collection system for identifying events of categories including reception events, storage events, and association events;   an item module containing index data for an item;   an end user facility module for recording the reception events that are to be assigned to the item and the storage events that are to be assigned to the item;   a provider module for assigning the association events to a provider;   an end user module for recording the association events that are to be assigned to the end user and to the item; and   a reporting system for generating reports comprising information from at least two of the categories,   wherein the item has a unique index value and the end user has a non-unique index value; and   wherein at least the end user facility module, the provider module, and the end user module are communicably coupled to each other in the computer system by a computer network.   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , further comprising a manufacturer module for recording the manufacturing events that are to be assigned to the item;
 wherein the reporting system generates reports comprising information from at least one of the categories and a manufacturing event; and   wherein the manufacturing module is communicably coupled to the computer network.   
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the item is a medical device. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 1 , further comprising a distributor module for recording distribution events that are to be assigned to the item;
 wherein the reporting system generates reports comprising information from at least one of the categories and a distribution event; and   wherein the distributor module is communicably coupled to the computer network.   
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the end user's non unique index includes demographic information. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the item's unique index includes a model number and serial number. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the end user facility module is associated with one or more of a hospital, clinic, or health care office. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the provider module is associated with a health care provider. 
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the end user is a medical patient. 
     
     
         10 . A method for tracking data, the method being implemented in computer readable medium and processor executed, the method comprising:
 identifying, by a data collection system, events of categories including reception events, storage events, and association events;   accessing, from an item module, index data for an item;   recording, by an end user facility module, the reception events that are to be assigned to the item and the storage events that are to be assigned to the item;   assigning, by a provider module, the association events to a provider;   recording, by an end user module, the association events that are to be assigned to the end user and to the item;   generating, by a reporting system, reports comprising information from at least two of the categories;   wherein the item has a unique index value and the end user has a non-unique index value; and   wherein at least the end user facility module, the provider module, and the end user module are communicably coupled to each other in the computer system by a computer network.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising recording, by a manufacturer module, the manufacturing events that are to be assigned to the item;
 generating, by a reporting system, reports comprising information from at least one of the categories and a manufacturing event; and   wherein the manufacturing module is communicably coupled to the computer network.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the item is a medical device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising recording, by a distributor module, distribution events that are to be assigned to the item;
 generating, by a reporting system, reports comprising information from at least one of the categories and a distribution event; and   wherein the distributor module is communicably coupled to the computer network.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the end user's non unique index includes demographic information. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the item's unique index includes a model number and serial number. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the end user facility module is associated with one or more of a hospital, clinic, or health care office. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the provider module is associated with a health care provider. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the end user is a medical patient. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method comprising:
 identifying, by a data collection system, events of categories including reception events, storage events, and association events;   accessing, from an item module, index data for an item;   recording, by an end user facility module, the reception events that are to be assigned to the item and the storage events that are to be assigned to the item;   assigning, by a provider module, the association events to a provider;   recording, by an end user module, the association events that are to be assigned to the end user and to the item;   generating, by a reporting system, reports comprising information from at least two of the categories;   wherein the item has a unique index value and the end user has a non-unique index value; and   wherein at least the end user facility module, the provider module, and the end user module are communicably coupled to each other in the computer system by a computer network.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises recording, by a manufacturer module, the manufacturing events that are to be assigned to the item;
 generating, by a reporting system, reports comprising information from at least one of the categories and a manufacturing event; and   wherein the manufacturing module is communicably coupled to the computer network.   
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the item is a medical device. 
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 19  wherein the method further comprises recording, by a distributor module, distribution events that are to be assigned to the item;
 generating, by a reporting system, reports comprising information from at least one of the categories and a distribution event; and 
 wherein the distributor module is communicably coupled to the computer network. 
 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the end user's non unique index includes demographic information. 
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the item's unique index includes a model number and serial number. 
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the end user facility module is associated with one or more of a hospital, clinic, or health care office. 
     
     
         26 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the provider module is associated with a health care provider. 
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the end user is a medical patient.